Dec 18, 2013

Big Deforestation Drivers -- New Book with Infographics

From: ifsaworld@yahoogroups.com

The Global Canopy Programme is pleased to announce the release of The Little Book of Big Deforestation Drivers.
 
Over the last decade the demand for agricultural products for food, feed and fuel and the production of globally traded forest risk commodities (palm oil, beef, soya, and timber) have been responsible for driving the majority of tropical deforestation and forest degradation, which has major impacts on climate change, the provision of ecosystem services, and the sustainability of long term economic development.
 
The Little Book of Big Deforestation Drivers outlines the global context to the drivers of deforestation, provides a detailed overview of the most critical forest risk commodity supply chains, and presents a clear and realistic framework of 24 regulatory, market and supply chain catalysts that can act to reduce deforestation caused by these commodities.
 
The book is available to download in English, Bahasa Indonesia, French and Spanish from the GCP website at www.globalcanopy.org/LittleBookofDrivers.
 
The book makes use of infographics to illustrate the global production and consumption of key forest risk commodities and the complexity of global commodity supply chains. For example:
This hypothetical supply chain of a burger illustrates the complexity of global supply chains and the numerous actors and stages involved in the production and trade of a product from the forest to the end consumer.


Oct 10, 2013

The Landscapes Game: App Developer is Needed!!

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) advances human well-being, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to help shape policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. CIFOR is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, with offices in Asia, Africa and South America.

CIFOR is looking for a App Developer 

Overview 
Drawing on concepts of Monopoly, SimCity, American Farmer and Snakes and Ladders, CIFOR scientists have developed a board game called the Landscapes Game that requires players to invest in different land uses or commodities to maximize their revenues while at the same time taking care of ecological and social conditions (see the player manual here).

Playing the Landscapes Game/@GlobalLF
The game has been played with communities across the world and has helped scientists better understand the dynamics of land competition, policy measures and sustainability of many different kinds of land uses.

We are now looking to engage a consultant or game development agency ahead of the Global Landscapes Forum on 16-17 November to bring this board game to the online world by creating a mobile phone app for Android and iOS.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

  1. Use relevant programming languages to design, develop and implement a mobile game version of the Landscapes Game
  2. Liaise with scientific project team and collect application development requirements; 
  3. Manage changes, bugs, and enhancements for the application; modify the application where necessary; and test its applicability to ensure it conforms to the specifications; 
  4. Conduct user acceptance testing and report results; 
  5. Provide end-user support; 
  6. Perform other related duties as required. 


Expressions of interest should be sent to Bruno Vander Velde b.vandervelde@cgiar.org and Sandra Caya s.caya@cgiar.org by 14 October 2013 and should include a portfolio of previous app/game development. Shortlisted applicants will be sent a more detailed brief in late October and asked to submit a proposal and budget for consideration.

CIFOR is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.

Sep 9, 2013

2014 Conservation Leadership Programme Awards

The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) aims to advance biodiversity conservation globally by building the leadership capabilities of early-career conservation professionals working in places with limited capacity to address high-priority conservation issues. This partnership initiative, including BirdLife International, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, and Wildlife Conservation Society, has been building conservation leaders across the world for over 25 years. The Programme currently works toward its aims by offering awards, training and mentoring support. The CLP offers three levels of Conservation Awards:  

CLP projects must occur in and be led by nationals of countries excluded from the World Bank list of high-income economies across Africa, Asia, Eastern and South-eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, where there tends to be fewer resources and capacity for conservation. Exceptions include some high-income economies located in some temperate and tropical areas of high biological diversity but thought to have low national capacity for conservation, including the Pacific Islands, Caribbean Islands and the Middle East. Check country eligibility here.

The application deadline for full proposals is 11th November 2013 for ALL applications. Those applying for Conservation Follow-up and Conservation Leadership Awards must submit a Logical Framework to the CLP by Tuesday, 1st October 2013. CLP will provide feedback on all logical frameworks by 16th October and, based on this review, will either invite applicants to submit a full proposal or not. Awards will be announced in April 2014. Please visit the CLP website for detailed eligibility criteria, guidelines and an application form.
Successful applicants will: 1.) Develop the knowledge, skills and abilities of team members; 2.) Implement a focused, high-priority conservation project combining research and action; and 3.) Contribute to the long-term success of local conservation efforts. All eligible teams submitting an application will receive feedback on their proposal.

The CLP is piloting an Alumni Ambassador Programme this year whereby Future Conservationist Award applicants can request feedback on their proposals from CLP alumni in their region prior to submission. More information on this programme is found on the CLP website. Applicants may also contact a member of the CLP team well before and up to two weeks before the application deadline for advice on project eligibility, methods and project activities. The CLP may be able to put teams in touch with local partner offices or other experts who can provide additional advice.

A representative from each award-winning team will be invited to attend an international training event in June/July 2014 organized by the CLP to share ideas and develop skills, knowledge and contacts. Additionally, winning teams are able to network with experts from within each of the partner organisations and past winners. CLP team members are available to help with project implementation, including guidance required during the planning and team training stages.

Have additional questions or seeking advice? Email clp@birdlife.org for more information.
Please forward this announcement to potentially interested individuals, organizations or academic institutions.

Masters in Conservation Leadership, University of Cambridge - applications for 2014 now open!

Masters in Conservation Leadership 
Applications and scholarship support for October 2014

The Masters degree in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge is a full-time, 11-month course aimed at graduates of leadership potential with at least three to five years of relevant experience in biodiversity conservation. Based in the University’s Department of Geography, a unique feature of this course is its delivery by members of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), a partnership between six university departments and nine conservation organisations or networks based in and around Cambridge. The teaching focuses on issues of management and leadership, with the dual goals of developing conservationists with enhanced research skills and a greater awareness of the complex drivers of biodiversity loss, while also developing their ability to act and lead effectively. The course aims to deliver a world-class and interdisciplinary education in Conservation Leadership that is not available elsewhere.

 • We now welcome applications for entry to the course in October 2014. For further details on how to apply, please visit the course website: http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/graduate/mphil/conservation
  • The final closing date for all applications is 3 December 2013.

We are pleased to confirm that the Miriam Rothschild Scholarship Programme in Conservation Leadership will continue to provide scholarship support to outstanding students from less developed and developing countries that are rich in biodiversity, to attend the Masters in Conservation Leadership. The number and size of these will vary from full scholarships, to partial scholarships that cover specific aspects of the funding package required by students. Applicants are also encouraged to seek out funding opportunities that might be available locally or nationally.

If you have any queries about making an application, please contact Emily Chenery, Programme Administrator: emily.chenery@geog.cam.ac.uk